So far as I can recall, previous governors have arrived without fanfare. Curious about the re-introduction of pomp, an IHOS staffer later told me that it was a request from Government House.

If this is a sign of the times and theatre audiences don’t like it, they can vote with their feet by remaining seated - which would leave the upright Governor looking a little foolish.

All this was a distraction from ‘The Lunch Box,’ a beautiful chamber opera created from a Thai Buddhist fable by composer Thanapoom Sirichang, who is living in Hobart. Sirichang blends traditional Thai music with Western operatic composition, using flute, piccolo, clarinet, cello, violin, keyboard and percussion. The onstage musicians are conducted by Michael Lampard and the result is a beguiling mix that both mirrors and enhances the fateful action.

Designed and directed by Dutch resident Joey Ruigrok van der Werven, ‘The Lunch Box’ is the story of a mother’s devotion to her only son after the death of her husband. The boy grows into a selfish man, to whom the mother is totally submissive, which only feeds his selfishness. It comes to a head over his lunch box and ends in tragedy.

The theme is universal . While set in the Thai rice fields - the set
is simple but evocative - it could be a contemporary urban story
about the relationship between two people, mother and son, husband and wife, or any other unequal partnership.

But the hour-long performance belongs to the singers.

Thai baritone Saran Suebsantiwongse’s strong and resonant voice captures the hard-working but self-centred son. Thai-Italian soprano Monique Klongtruadroke is the submissive mother, whose beautiful yet powerful voice encapsulates her grief. (If I have one criticism, it’s that she looks far too young to be his mother).

There were less than sixty people at the first night, which was a shame. Constantine Koukias’ Hobart-based IHOS company is associated with avant-garde experimental music theatre. Some productions have been hard to take, which may be why so few attended. Others, and in particular, his full-length, contemporary opera, “To Traverse Water,’
were exceptional.

‘The Lunch Box’ is different. Sung in Thai with simple English surtitles, it is easily understood. And it is a creative winner that is set to travel.

Margaretta Pos for Oz baby boomers
“LADIES and gentlemen, please will you ...

I thought it was a request to the audience to turn off mobile phones before the start of IHOS Music Theatre & Opera’s premiere of ‘The Lunch Box,’ on the first night of performances in Tasmania’s Ten Days on the Island festival.

The voice continued:

“Please will you stand for His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, Mr Peter Underwood and Mrs Underwood.”

Nearly everyone stood, the vice regal party came in and to my astonishment, Advance Australia Fair boomed through the small Playhouse theatre.

From my memories of my rare meetings with Margaretta, she would only have been happy if they had blared out: all stand please for the arrival of Margaretta Pos.

What a load of drivel!

Your better than this Tasmanian Times.

Posted by nudger on 27/03/09 at 12:15 PM

The fanfare for Governor Underwood is doubly disturbing in light of his recent comments on the Governor’s prerogatve powers generally and particularly in respect to appointing a government in the event of a hung parliament, which were mentioned by him in the Gunn’ sponsored 50 Great Tasmanians profiles in the Examiner.

As a judge, Mr Underwood exhibited at times a rather expansive view of his own powers to make new law. This was combined at one point with his refusal to step down from a case involving Gunns Ltd on the issue of real or perceived bias despite admitting direct ownership of what was then $66,000 in Gunns shares.

One normally doesn’t expect a governor to be touting his/her viceregal powers in the absence of an immediate need to exercise them.

John Hayward

Posted by john hayward on 27/03/09 at 01:25 PM

The sooner we become a republic the better. Then this ridiculous anachronistic nonsense would end. The union jack would no longer belong on the Australian flag, and we could celebrate Australia Day whenever we bloody well felt like it. In fact, I might celebrate it tomorrow.

The monarchy is utterly irrelevant to Australia, and in fact holds little sway outside a small bunch of inbred upstart Pommy Bastards.

God Save Donald Bradman.

Posted by Cameron on 27/03/09 at 03:41 PM

It’s perfectly reasonable for the public to be informed that the Guv’s a bit up himself.

Posted by dev on 27/03/09 at 03:44 PM

Oh yes, Justice Underwood and the Tasmanian Compliance Corporation’s three stooges of Green, White and Mo in the Supreme Court. It was the scene of one toon judiciously rejected by Linz…something about inappropriate during a Court case or some other such excuse!

As I recall, the subject matter in the toon was classical, too!

Posted by Mark on 27/03/09 at 04:02 PM

Hey Gov, good on you to make the rabble get off their bums!

But your methods are antiquated. There are microchip implants now that can be placed in all newborns (and retrofitted to grown-ups). They can transmit any order you chose to give, make them sing any tune you like and monitor their behavior plus transmit descent directly to headquarters. I offer you a decent kickback if you can instigate same sales. Trust me, I am the free market.

The Governor arrived at the Theatre Royal tonight (Friday 27th March) without fanfare. His arrival wasn’t announced and thankfully, we were not subjected to Advance Australia Fair.

Posted by Margaretta Pos on 27/03/09 at 10:38 PM

Tradition is important because it reminds us of the
‘good old days’ when we were much more barbaric and
ignorant and our lives were filled with plagues, genocides and brutal capital punishments. No wonder
tradition is the ideological mainstay of the Liberal Party.

Posted by no pulp mill on 28/03/09 at 12:28 PM

A magistrate friend of mine, who sits in another state, said that when Underwood dies he will need two coffins. One will be for his body and the other for his ego.

Posted by Bob McMahon on 28/03/09 at 02:59 PM

Kings and Queens ,and Governor’s, in 2009 ? Christ ! what an extremely outmoded scenario in today’s world, and which only continues to foster and perpetuate class distinction as has always been the way among those would be upper class Britons.

The man does nothing ! he and his position are no more than a continuing festering sore on the face of this state, most especially when one imagines the cost and upkeep of Govt house, his salary, with all its minders, gardeners,cars and so on.

In this year of 2009 we need to firmly rein in such wasted revenue, most especially in regards to this states shocking and ongoing medical crisis.

d.d.

Posted by don davey on 28/03/09 at 05:30 PM

And who is it that is flat out wanting to jump into bed with the mob that successfully scuttled the big chance ten years ago to carry the referrendum to become a republic?

Posted by George Harris aka woodworker on 30/03/09 at 02:17 AM

We made a democratic decision ten years ago to continue abasing ourselves before this pile of excresence that calls itself a monarchy and its pathetic pumped-up vice-regal lackeys.

Therefore we are stuck with a pack of chinless Germans (long after the Germans themselves saw the light) and must remain their obedient subjects.

It is also worth remembering that, ten years ago, the most popular politician in Australia was one JW Howard. We got rid of him, now let’s get rid of one of his favourite abominations.

Of course, Woodworker (#12), it is the ALP State Government that appoints the Governor. If it simply refused to do so that would save a lot of taxpayers’ money (which we could then use to further subsidise Gunns). The least they could do is find another use for Government House. No constitutional change required, no change to any law, just let the incumbent live in his/her own house while doing the job. It is the Labor Party, Woodworker, who keep us in State Governors and make us pay the attendant expenses. When are you going to use your influence within the Party to get rid of the parasites?

Posted by Justa Bloke on 30/03/09 at 05:26 PM

Come on Woodworker. You’ve surely had enough time to think of a response. Or even a guess as to why the ALP is so intent on spending our money on providing a luxury lifestyle for the local representative of an extremely wealthy foreign woman.

After all, other foreign entities (such as, for example, largely foreign-owned woodchipping, retail hardware and wine-growing companies) have to pay for their own representatives.

Whoops, I’ll take that last comment back. We pay for some of them, too.

Posted by Justa Bloke on 03/04/09 at 11:17 AM

Still waiting, Woodworker, still waiting for you to crawl out of the woodwork.

Posted by Justa Bloke on 07/04/09 at 01:13 PM

Jeeze, Woodworker, how long do you need in order to make up something? Every day that passes is costing taxpayers more.

Posted by Justa Bloke on 12/04/09 at 04:30 PM

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